172-N. J. Agricultural Experiment Station, Bulletin 348 



The ditference between the temporary work necessary during a 

 dry season and that which is necessary during a wet season is 

 enormous. It is the water surface which measures mosquito-breed- 

 ing possibihties and wet weather may increase it a hundredfold or 

 more. It is therefore possible that any force working upon tempo- 

 rary work under wet weather conditions may be helpless. In such 

 cases the public should be informed of the fact and warned to ex- 

 pect mosquito trouble. Good judgment on the part of the super- 

 visor, and faithful performance on the part of his subordinates will 

 go far toward securing control when the conditions are most un- 

 promising. 



Temporary control work should not be limited to the area itself 

 but should include all territory contributing to the supply of the 

 pest which troubles the population of the protected area. In many- 

 cases this will involve the use of influence and the promotion of ed- 

 ucation. In others it will involve the actual expenditure of funds. 



Some measure of the reduction in mosquito numbers must be de- 

 vised. Reports of householders can be depended on only when the 

 reduction is very complete. The writer believes that this measure 

 can best be found in the practice of regular twice-a-week evening 

 collections of mosquitoes on the wing and the prompt charting of the 

 results. Unless this work is properly done it will prove a waste 

 of time and money. The methods involved in the proper 

 practice of the periodic collection are set forth on pages 91-95. 



Cleaning and Stocking With Fish 



This method is to be employed only when the pools are highly 

 valued for some reason or another. Some pools will have a screen- 

 ing growth only around the edges. In many cases the dropping of 

 the water level 12 inches about June first will expose a clean rim 

 of beach all around the body of water and thereby permit the fish 

 to swim in and consume all the wrigglers. No serious amount of 

 growth will usually take place during the balance of the mosquito 

 season. At the close of the season the water should be returned to 

 the original level and kept there until the following June in order 

 that all plant growth upon the previously exposed area may be 

 killed. In other cases plant growth will occur more or less through- 

 out. Ordinarily nothing short of deepening will improve this sit- 

 uation. Most large pools, ponds and lakes are already stocked with 

 fish. Both top- and bottom-feeding fish are desirable but the former 



